Actually I think it was debris ... my daughter pulled the tiny feather off it this morning. So it must have just got stuck in the scab (assuming that’s what it is).
ive noticed one of our hens has black growth on its comb. Do I need to do anything? She has recently finished moulting (it’s winter here) and hasn’t resumed laying yet. Otherwise normal behaviour, energy, eating, pooping etc.
I’ve seen Kilverm online too ... is the wormout gel the best option if I can get it? Or do they all pretty much do the same. I think I saw the kilverm one doesn’t stop you eating the eggs ... but I don’t know, you’d think any chemical is going to come through to the eggs.
one of our chickens hasn’t been laying for a couple of weeks and has been irregular for maybe a few months. She has been losing some feathers and growing new ones in recent week or two. It’s beginning of autumn here in Australia but still pretty warm.
Poop has seemed normal (until today), she...
Our 2 australorp hens are just over 1 year old. On and off for the last few months one of our hens lays for a few weeks and then stops for a few weeks and so the cycle continues. She looks healthy but when she stops laying she also stops squatting when we go to pat her.
Poo looks normal
No...
I've had a good look around the yard and can't find any alternate locations (but keeping them in their enclosed run for a few days to be sure). I'm not hearing her "egg laying" noise during the day either - which is pretty normal after she's laid.
How quickly do their pelvic bones change if...
We've just recently been on holidays and were away for 4 weeks, with a friend housesitting and chicken minding for us. Before we went away our 2 Australorp chickens were laying about 10 per week between them (3 days on and 1 day off ... extremely regular). While we were away it's been said...
Can now confirm both our chickens are hens. Our splash australorp laid her first egg this morning at 29 weeks old, and our blue australorp starting laying at 25 weeks old
It was an egg-citing morning here :weewhen we found our first egg. We are pretty sure our blue Australorp laid it as our other Australorp has much narrower pelvic bones and smaller looking vent. It weighed in at 38g but was perfectly formed, lovely orange yolk and tasted DELICIOUS!!
She was...
Felt their pelvic bones this afternoon. The pale Australorp is probably 1.5 fingers wide (~2cm) which is no bigger than maybe 2 weeks ago, the dark Australorp is fractionally wider but not big enough for 2 fingers (~2.5cm) (wider than 2 weeks ago). Guess this means there is still a bit of...
Thanks for your reply. A few nights ago they started to sleep in the nesting boxes so I blocked them off temporarily. Haven’t noticed them going into the nesting boxes during the day. Will have to keep them blocked overnight and unblock for daytime once they are re-trained to sleep on their...
Yes they free range some of the day but not until after around 10.30/11am to maximise the chance that when they lay it will be in the coop. Keeping an eye on where they go in case they start laying outside the coop.
We tried to check their pelvic bones the other day but there are so many...
Here’s our Australorp girls at 19.5 weeks. Any guesses how long we will have to wait before they lay based on their wattle and comb development/colourings?
The white one squats when we pat her (but doesn’t particularly like it)
Here's photos @ 17 weeks old
Are these bumps on the legs normal for a hen? Couldn't get a close look at the dark coloured one but hoping she is not a he and getting spurs. Ages ago I could feel a slight bump on both chickens legs so figured it normal. But it looked more pronounced on the...